RAYMOND Terrace race walking find Audrey Russell has capped a golden season on the athletics track with a national bronze medal.
Competing at the National Athletics Championships in Perth, the 13-year old finished third in the Girls 14yrs 3000m walk final.
It was a huge achievement by in-form Audrey who, despite the cool and blustery conditions, was able to produce a two minute personal best time of 14:44.93 to secure a podium spot.
Audrey was one of five top athletes from the Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre to compete at the national titles.
Promising middle distance sprinter Ashlyn Wall finished 10th overall in the Girls 800m event – narrowly missing a berth in the final by one spot.
She was just outside her personal best with a time of 2:14.93.
Ashlyn also impressed in the 400m event – clocking a personal best time of 58.10s to finish 13th overall.
Raymond Terrace Athletics Centre secretary Deidre Hall praised the efforts of her five outstanding prospects.
“Having successfully qualified in their individual events, the group not only faced the challenge of top competition from all over Australia but needed to come to terms with the different surface currently only in the ACT and Western Australia,” she told News Of The Area.
Other gifted Raymond Terrace club athletes to shine were Zane Edwards, who finished sixth in the Boys 200m final with a time of 23:04s, just outside his personal best, and triple jump hopeful Connor Matthews, who came fourth in the Under 20s final.
In a field of 13 jumpers, the emerging Matthews produced a personal best of 14.34m to showcase his potential.
Eighteen-year old Dixie Conlon finished 13th in the Girls Long Jump – leaping 5.18 metres to earn a top fifteen ranking.
“Our current crop of national qualifiers is the largest number and age span to represent the centre in the one season,” Deidre said.
“This speaks volumes for the hard work put in by the athletes and coaching staff in developing our juniors and reaching elite levels.”
By Chris KARAS
